Devil of a timeKeanu Reeves swaps the computers of the Matrix for infernal
demons in Constantine

By Chris Betros

Courtesy of warner brosa

Youd think that after making the three Matrix movies,
Keanu Reeves would have had enough of fighting unearthly forces.
Apparently not. In Constantine, the 40-year-old star (yes,
hes 40) plays John Constantine, a globetrotting, chain-smoking
supernatural detective investigating why thousands of people
have slipped into comas. Having literally been to hell and
back, he now must battle soldier demons and make deals with
heavenly representatives to save his own over-mortgaged soul.

I liked the character of the story. Hes original,
said Reeves, expanding beyond the monosyllabic answers he
usually gives when he meets the press. He knows a lot
about the world, but not enough about himself. He is condemned
to hell and is searching for a way out. Its a great
film, a mixing of genres like horror, mystery and comedy.
It turned out to be everything I hoped it would be when I
started it.

Directed by first-timer Francis Lawrence, Constantine is based
on the 1980s comic book Hellblazer. The catchphrase is Hell
wants him. Heaven wont take him. Earth needs him,
which means we get to see a lot of hell, courtesy of Lawrences
imagination and the best computer-generated imaging that money
can buy. As for hell itself, Reeves said he doesnt have
any personal vision of what it or heaven might be like.

Constantine reunites Reeves with Rachel Weisz, nine years
after they made Chain Reaction. The 34-year-old British actress
is philosophical about the existence of heaven and hell. I
think of it as a state of mind that we create here on Earth,
she said. Looking at the finished version of the film,
hell is certainly more visually interesting than anything
I could ever imagine. On working again with Reeves,
Weisz expressed amazement at how down-to-earth he remained
in view of his Matrix fame. He was so unchanged by the
stratospheric global success of the Matrix series. I felt
so comfortable with him.

There is already talk of a sequel to Constantine, but Lawrence,
a former music video director, said it is too early to consider
it. We have to wait and see if people like this one,
he said. This was my first film and I felt a lot of
pressure because, after all, the film has to succeed.

There were times during filming when the cast and crew thought
supernatural forces were working against them and if they
might not be better off calling the Ghostbusters. Apparently,
paranormal activity was going on inside sound stage No. 16
at Warner Bros Hollywood lot. Over the years, similar stories
have spread about spooky vibes when The Exorcist and Poltergeist
were filmed. Lawrence said that one room seemed to have a
bad effect on everyone, causing some to get sick and others
to get angry during the six-week shoot. Other than that, everyone
had a devil of a good time.

Washington Stecanela CerqueiraGoal-Oriented Striker Prepares Himself
for a Big Game This Week

The new center-forward for J. Leagues Tokyo Verdy 1969,
Washington Stecanela Cerqueira has wowed audiences around
the world with his goal-scoring abilities.

Where are you from?Brasîlia, Brazil.
When did you start playing soccer? Ive been kicking
a ball around from as far back as I can remember.

How many hours a day do you practice?About two hours a day, plus extra training for specific
areas that I feel lacking in.

What was your worst injury?I havent had any bad injuries playing soccer. I
had to stop playing for about 18 months to have heart surgery
twice. My supporters gave me the nickname Braveheart
when I began playing again last year and was the top scorer.

What do you do on your days off?I rest or go to the park with my daughter.

Any other sports you like to play or watch?I play tennis on my days off and I like to watch F1.

If you werent a soccer star, what would you like
to do?I cant imagine being anything other than a soccer
player.

Of all of the teams in the world, why did you choose Tokyo
Verdy 1969?
I got an excellent impression of the country when I came to
Japan in 2001 as a member of the Brazilian team. Verdy was
very enthusiastic about asking me to play for them.

What are your goals for the J. League and your future as
a soccer player?I want to my team to be J. League champions. My first
step toward achieving this goal is to try to score three goals
this week in the match against Albirex Niigata at the Kasumigaoka
National Stadium. One day I would like to participate in the
World Cup. NU